Kacyzne, Alter (1885-1941). Papers.

Yiddish writer and professional photographer.  Prominent in Jewish literary and artistic circles in Warsaw before World War II.  Wrote novels, poetry, plays, film scripts, journalistic articles.  Disciple of Isaac Leib Peretz and friend and confidant of S. An-Ski (who appointed Kacyzne as the executor of his literary estate). Kacyzne completed An- Ski's unfinished play Tog un Nakht. Contributed to, and edited, a number of Yiddish newspapers and magazines in Poland, including Literarishe bleter, Bikher velt, Folkstaytung, Vilner tog, Unzer ekspres. In 1937-1939 published and edited his own literary magazine Mayn redndiker film.    

Kaczyne owned a photographic studio in Warsaw which he operated until 1926. In 1921 he was commissioned by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society in New York to do a series of photographs which would depict the Jewish immigration theme. He took these photographs at the HIAS office in Warsaw.  In 1927 Kacyzne began his collaboration with the Jewish Daily Forward in New York. For the paper's weekly Art Section, Kacyzne took a series of photographs depicting Jewish life in scores of communities throughout Poland. Kacyzne also photographed Yiddish theater performances and made numerous photo portraits of Jewish personalities.